Check out the new issue of The Fish Sniffer Magazine for October 17, 2025.

In this issue of The Fish Sniffer, we celebrate the arrival of Fall. Much cooler temperatures and even some rainfall have occurred, setting the stage for excellent fishing in Northern California. Trout, salmon, bass, panfish, stripers, catfish, and all other species are on the bite to fatten up for the lean winter season.

Check out the articles in this issue, including a full report on the opening week at Pyramid Lake, the Fall Rio Vista Striper Derby, and the 25th Annual Shasta Lake Trout Derby. Learn how to catch more fish and enjoy the great outdoors in Northern California this fall season.

The golden mussel problem continues to impact boaters statewide, causing major boat launch closures and strict new inspection and quarantine rules at several lakes. These rules are beginning to change, and some lakes—like Oroville and Bullards Bar—now allow same-day launches following an inspection. Always check the regulations at any lake before heading out.

All you need to know about fresh and saltwater fishing in Northern California is in the new issue of The Fish Sniffer Magazine!

OREGON HOUSE – It’s feeling more and more like fall around here — beautiful quiet weekdays and comfortable camping weather. The lake is about 32 ft below spill, which is normal for this time in the irrigation season, and the surface water temperature has cooled down to 70.8 degrees.

While it’s definitely a different feel than “full to the brim,” it has its own beauty, especially when it’s still and glassy, and especially when the only sound is water dripping off your kayak paddles.

This is just about the slowest time of year for trout fishing. Even so, in September, longtime Collins Lake angler Jimmie Trejo and his friend John Hilton managed to bring in more than a limit of trout and a couple of bass to fill out the stringer.

They were trolling white Speedy Shiners out on the main body of the lake, where it took 300 ft of weighted fishing line to get down deep enough for those trout! Jimmie was out on the water again this week and brought in another nice bass weighing 5 pounds from out near the island.

Aside from trout, there is still some good warm-water action. Bass are scattered and you might even get a few unexpected bites while trolling. Or else when you’re fishing for bluegill… Keegan, Brody, and Colson reported catching a 4.5 lb largemouth bass while they were reeling in a bluegill — I’d doubt it EXCEPT… when I was a kid, the exact same thing happened to me and my brother at Collins Lake on the east bank of Elmer’s Cove on a #12 hook with a 4 lb test leader no less.

We had no net, and I remember my brother bear-hugging a big largemouth down in the mud to bring it up on shore. That’s...

SACRAMENTO – Trollers fishing Lake Berryessa are bagging big numbers of kokanee salmon, king salmon, and Eagle Lake–strain trout, while bass fishermen are picking up large numbers of spotted, largemouth, and smallmouth bass.

“After almost a two-week break for vacation, I am back on Berryessa and the limit train rolls on, baby,” said Nate Kelsch of Big Nate’s Guide Service after his latest fishing adventure. “My three-man crew scored limits of big, beautiful kokanee and a couple of nice king salmon by 10:30 a.m.

Epic fishing continues. We used exactly what I had been using before my vacation — Catch America 6-inch Offset Dodgers with Tpex lures from my Kokanee Kit, tipped with Chrome Killer Corn, on the brand new Big Nate’s Signature Trolling Rods — and we batted 1000%. If you use this gear, you will catch fish,” he added.

“The best depths were from 45 ft to 87 ft, chasing marks as I kept my eyes glued to the graph. The fish are a bit lethargic with the full moon, so keeping the presentations in their face is crucial,” he concluded.

Kelsch is now booking potluck trips, catfish trips, and crappie/bass trips on Berryessa.

On one recent fishing adventure at Lake Berryessa, Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing reported that the “bass bite is still going.”

“The spoon bite was slow starting with only two largemouth, but the dropshot bite was great with 15 fish up to 3 pounds. A little cooler weather is all we need to get the fall bite going,” he forecasted.

However, on the following trip, Paganelli reported slow bass action. “I had a day towards the end of last week during that storm — and the fishing was really slow. That low-pressure system shut the bite off. We ended up with three bass...

ALAMEDA COUNTY – The weather is perfect, school is in, and the crowds are light. Seasonal plants may have ended, but there is still plenty of action to be had.

Lake del Valle – Paul Clouse and Al Hurwitz continue their quest for DV smallies and are starting to see some decent numbers. Last week the pair took a total of 12 fish (one bluegill and 11 smallmouth). The smallies were mostly on the dink side, except for one weighing 2 pounds. The fish were mainly caught on the western shore of the lake opposite Swallow Bay trolling 1/4 oz Panther Martin spinners in a salamander pattern at 16–21 feet below the surface in 20–30-foot water columns at a speed of 2.0–2.4 mph.

Largemouth remain another solid target, with a decent morning and evening bite, and with water temperatures slowly dropping the bite window is stretching longer into the day. Additionally, the fish are moving into deeper water and are a bit easier to target in the cleaner water. Catfish are still more than available, panfish are at about their largest size of the season, and there are still some outliers such as the occasional striper. Weedless plastics, chatterbaits, shallow divers, and spinners will all work for bass.

Cut baits like anchovies and sardines are best for the cats, and worms under a bobber or small jigs should produce both crappie and bluegill. There was a surprise DFW trout taken this week.

A caution advisory for algae remains in effect but has had little effect on the fishing. The water level is good, and water temperatures have been between 75 degrees in the morning and 79 degrees in the afternoon.

Contra Loma – There has been little change to conditions, and the bite remains slow for mostly dink bass. Catfish...

FOLSOM – The fishing for king salmon and rainbow trout has been tough on Folsom Lake, but that should all change soon as the surface water temperature cools down and the fish become more active.

“It’s a case of quality over quantity,” said Tom Malley of Get the Net Fishing Guide Service. “There are some nice salmon pushing 6 to 8 pounds on the lake now. We landed one king weighing 4 pounds and lost a bigger fish at the net on Saturday. We hooked and lost a big salmon on Sunday, while my fishing buddy landed one weighing 5 pounds.”

“You’ve got to get out before first light; there’s been a window of about 45 minutes when the fish bite lately. We’ve been trolling with white and green Pro-Trolls and green Jig-Its, both tipped with anchovy fillets. The fish have also been hitting Trigger Spoons,” he advised.

“The depths have varied depending on the day,” he said. “Two weeks ago, we hooked two kings at 35 feet deep while fishing with Trigger Spoons. The key is slow trolling and hitting the drop-offs, as long as you watch out for sunken trees. You need to bounce your weights on the bottom.”

On one trip, Malley reported, “We had a slow morning on Folsom with one chrome-bright six-pound king salmon caught — and on the kid’s birthday, to boot! We caught the fish off Brown’s Ravine at 45 feet, at a speed of 1.8 mph on, believe it or not, a yellow Thomas Buoyant I was using as a cheater spoon. So it was just the kid and the fish.”

For black bass, Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience recommended fishing Robo Worms on drop-shot rigs in the creek channels leading into the coves at Folsom. “Use your electronics to...

FORESTHILL – Rainbow trout were hitting at French Meadows Reservoir as an early winter storm was getting ready to hit the Sierra Nevada.

“Limit-style rainbow fishing is available to both boaters and shore anglers,” reported Cal Kellogg of fishcalkellogg.com. “On my latest kayak trip to the reservoir I caught and released 16 rainbows to 18 inches. I used a bunch of different baits, but I had my best success while trolling with nightcrawlers 16 to 18 inches behind Mini Willow Leaf dodgers with three colors of leadcore at 1.8 mph.”

“If you plan to shore fish, I recommend rigging up one rod with an inflated nightcrawler about 30 feet off shore and another rod with a nightcrawler under a bobber,” Kellogg advised. “I think the next two to three weeks should yield outstanding trout fishing at French Meadows and other lakes in the High Sierra.”

LIVERMORE – Anglers are experiencing top fishing for striped bass and catfish, though the trout fishing should perk up at Los Vaqueros Reservoir as the water cools and fall trout plants begin.

“Fishermen are picking up stripers while fishing from shore and rental boats,” said Carlos Robles at the Los Vaqueros Marina. “Anglers brought in stripers in the 21- to 24-inch range today. One angler also landed a 10 lb. striper. Bait fishing with anchovies is producing the best success.”

South Cove, the pier near the marina, Cowboy Cove, and Howden Cove are among the better spots to target striped bass.

Channel catfish are also hitting around the lake, including off the pier near the marina. Although Robles has seen some catfish in the 8-pound class caught, most are in the 2- to 5-lb. class. The South Cove, Cowboy Cove, and Oak Point are among the better spots to target catfish with anchovies, chicken liver, and nightcrawlers.

“A few trout — not many — are being caught by anglers fishing along the shoreline,” he added. “Most anglers report catching the rainbows on PowerBait.”

Robles expects the trout plants to resume in late October or early November. The water temperature at the marina was 68 to 69 degrees at press time.

If you are interested in renting a boat, the marina recommends calling ahead to check current wind conditions as they are unpredictable and can impact the ability to safely rent boats to visitors. Wind speeds change suddenly, and boat rentals are typically suspended when they exceed 15 mph or when heavy gusts are forecasted. Remember — rental boats are first come, first served. Weekends and some weekdays sell out quickly.

The reservoir is holding 145,000 acre-feet of water. For more information, call (925) 371-2628.

• Dan Bacher

ANGELS CAMP – While kokanee salmon fishing has petered out as the fish go upriver to spawn, fishing for rainbow trout is excellent at New Melones Reservoir, according to Kyle Wise of Headhunter SportFishing.

“I had two new clients out this morning, and despite yesterday’s adverse weather conditions, including winds, lightning, and rain, the morning bite proved to be exceptionally productive,” Wise reported. “They rapidly caught their limit of ten fish by 9:30 a.m. while using Tspoons and Speedy Shiners smeared with Pautzke’s Garlic/Herring Fire Gel, down to a depth of 100 feet.”

After his previous fishing adventure, Wise reported, “I ran another birthday trip, and what a morning our two clients had. Find the bait balls and find fish. We were able to catch limits of trout and a few kokanee, plus a brown to cap the morning off.”

Boaters interested in participating in the seal program can obtain a quarantine seal to attach to their boat and trailer at this time. Please visit the Glory Hole boat launch location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to obtain one from a park ranger free of charge, to begin the 30-day quarantine period prior to any future boat launching at New Melones.

For questions about this suspension and the new protocol, contact a New Melones staff member at (209) 459-7290 or visit the New Melones website.

New Melones is holding 1,620,496 acre-feet of water, 68 percent of capacity and 122 percent of average.

• Dan Bacher

RIO VISTA – The striper bite for trollers in the Delta continues to be productive, according to avid trolling expert Mark Wilson. Mark reports that he and his friends have been trolling in a number of locations until they locate the fish.

They’ve trolled from the West Bank below the Rio Vista Bridge on the outgoing tide to the bottom of the tide using deep-diving Yozuri lures, and on the San Joaquin River from Eddo’s Marina to the Antioch Bridge and into Broad Slough using shallow-running Yozuris on the incoming tide for their best action.

Mark noted that on his last trip he and his friends caught 20 keeper stripers, retaining only their limits. Green or pink-colored Yozuris did the job on this trip.

The bait fishing for stripers has been tough in the Delta. “We ended up with two keeper stripers measuring 20 and 22 inches for two guys on the San Joaquin River while jigging P-Line Lazer Minnows on my latest trip on October 11,” said Cal Kellogg of fishcalkellogg.com. “There were lots of fish marks on the graph, but the stripers wouldn’t hit live bluegill or sardines. We also released two undersized stripers and a 15 lb carp. I think the reason the stripers weren’t hitting the baits was because they were on a reaction bite.”

If you would like more information about the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), go to www.striper-csba.org. You’ll be able to access all information related to the four CSBA chapters. New members only pay $25, which includes a one-time $5 initiation fee. After the first year of membership, the annual dues are $20. Your membership helps strengthen our mission to protect striped bass and our fisheries. Some chapters will even give you a free gift just for joining.

The Isleton-Delta Chapter gives...

TRUCKEE – The Truckee River is seeing typical fall conditions right now. The upper section of the river is low, but thanks to increased releases out of Boca, the canyon section is flowing around 450 CFS — above average. At 100 CFS, the upper section in town is quite low, but still fishable. When flows get that low, dry fly fishing often becomes better.

This is the time of year when the October Caddis begin their yearly emergence — a fun but short-lived window to throw large caddis patterns at trout eager to maximize calories before winter. The October Caddis adults also serve as a great alternative to the waning grasshopper hatch for dry-dropper setups. Pair them with a zebra midge or BWO nymph a couple feet under the caddis and cover lots of water in search of aggressive fish.

For those looking to maximize odds on this tough and technical river, use an indicator or euro rig and get your flies down quickly with no drag. Fall fly selections like stoneflies (Pat’s Rubberlegs), BWOs (Micro Mays), zebra midges, and size 18 perdigons will all work well — provided you get a perfect drift. Worms, eggs, and October Caddis pupa are also great choices for your larger fly.

Streamer fishing has been improving as cooling water temps make trout more aggressive. Olive, white, black, brown, or yellow streamers all have their moments — presentation and water coverage are key. Trout will usually decide whether to strike the first time they see your fly.

Little Truckee River: Currently flowing around 50 CFS, anglers are strongly encouraged to fish elsewhere, especially as the browns begin their annual migration upstream. This is a 100% wild trout fishery dependent on a successful natural spawn. When water is low, fishing pressure can significantly disrupt spawning...

TRUCKEE –

Donner Lake: Fishing remains solid across species. Kokanee anglers are still finding fish near the west end around 50 feet deep using small spoons and hoochies. Mackinaw are deeper—50 to 150 feet—taking larger plugs and slow-trolled spoons. Shore anglers are picking up rainbows around China Cove and the west-end ramps with worms, PowerBait, and spinners. The bite is best early and late, before boat traffic increases. Donner continues to be one of the steadiest options in the area.

Boca Reservoir: Fishing remains productive for both bank and boat anglers. Surface temps are in the high 50s, keeping trout active near the dam and west-end creek. Trollers working close to shore are finding rainbows and browns, while shore anglers using worms, eggs, or spoons are doing best in the evenings. Kokanee have fully colored and are now off the bite. The reservoir sits around 75% full, allowing for easy access.

Stampede Reservoir: Trout fishing continues to be steady. Rainbows and browns are showing up along the north shore early and late in the day on worms, lures, and PowerBait. Trollers are connecting with suspended fish 40–60 feet down using spoons or Rapalas. Cooler mornings are bringing trout shallower, making early hours most productive. The kokanee season has wrapped up here for the year.

Prosser Creek Reservoir: The reservoir is fishing well and offering a fun mix of bass and trout. The lake sits around 70% full, with surface temps in the low 60s. Bass are holding in coves and biting plastics, jigs, and crankbaits in 10 feet of water. Trout are suspended 20–40 feet down, with trollers finding success on Rapalas and plugs. Shore anglers near the dam are also connecting with worms, eggs, and PowerBait. While not known for large fish, Prosser offers consistent action and a great...

Paul Kneeland fished Pyramid Lake with John Brassfield of Trucksmart stores and Brian Garcia of Alta in the Fish Sniffer Rogue Jet 21 Coastal. They caught Lahontan cutthroat trout to 16 1/2 pounds, using an Okuma SST 8’6” light Steelhead Rod with an Okuma Convector line counter reel loaded with 10 lb. test P Line. They trolled 4 inch watermelon Silver Horde and 4 inch Doctor Spoons in “Triple Threat” color and also several colors of Lyman and Silver Horde plugs behind Vance’s Cannonball flashers, trolling off Canon Downriggers at 60 to 90 feet deep and 2.3 mph.

Trollers are catching big numbers of king salmon, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout and black bass. The fish are hitting T-pex lures and other offerings at anywhere from 40 to 100 feet deep.

Fishing has been epic for trollers since opening day on October 1. Anglers are hooking some huge fish, including some in the 13 to 20 lb. range, while using an array of spoons and plugs.

King salmon are on the bite for experienced anglers. Fishermen can target salmon through October 31 in the stretch of river from the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park downstream to the Jibboom Street Bridge.

The salmon season in the section of the Feather River from 200 yards above the Live Oak boat ramp to Highway 99 bridge remains open through October 31. The bag limit is one Chinook salmon.

Rockfish and lingcod action has been hot. Anglers are nailing limits of rockfish and lingcod while fishing live bait, jigs, swimbaits and other offerings.

Expect the shore fishing for trout to improve as the water temperature cools down and the fish go on the bite. Use inflated nightcrawlers, PowerBait, Kastmasters and an array of lures to entice the rainbows.

The lake should turn over soon with the arrival of cooler weather. Bank anglers and boaters can both find success with cooling water temperature.

Expect the surfperch fishing to improve in the coming months as the fish move into the beaches to spawn. Cast out plastic grubs, live shrimp and bloodworms for the fish.

On Wednesday, October 8, I headed back to Orange County’s famous Santa Ana River Lakes, arriving around five o’clock in the evening for the night session. That gave me six hours to see what was biting. The wind was blowing about seven to eight miles per hour, but my one ounce egg sinker on a Carolina rig still had enough weight to cast cleanly into the lake.

I set up on the right side of the lake, just around the corner from the entrance. My buddy Ceaser joined me for his first ever fishing trip, so I had to show him the ropes. Our bait lineup included shrimp with marshmallows, nightcrawlers, and some mackerel that Ceaser had marinated in garlic.

For the first hour or so there was not much action, so I used the time to teach Ceaser how to cast, set up his rigs, and get comfortable with the basics. After about an hour, the calm broke. My rod’s bite indicator went wild, and the rod bent over hard. The fish felt huge. After a five minute fight, I realized the line had wrapped around the rod tip. The moment I tried to fix it, the line snapped and the fish was gone. We were definitely not happy about that.

Even with that loss, the next three hours made up for it. We barely had time to sit down with all the action coming our way. Most of the fish were hitting mackerel, and by the end of the night I had caught my first ever limit at Santa Ana River Lakes.

As for Ceaser, not bad for a rookie. He landed four catfish, including his personal best at eight pounds. I guess beginner’s luck is real after all.

All the action can be seen on YouTube at...